Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-12-02

The courier's wife was shown ina little,
meek, melancholy woman, with white eye
ashes, and watery eyes, who courtesied
tieferentially, and was troubled with small
chronic cough. Agnes shook hands with her
kindly. aWell, Emily, what can I do for
your
The couriers wife made rather a strange
answer: am afraid TO tell you, miss"
as it such very difficult favor 10 grant,
Sit down, and let me hear how you are going
on. Perhaps the petition will slip out while
we are talking. How does your husband boz
have to you'll"
Emily's light gray eyes looked moro watery
than ever. She shook her head and sighed
ttsignedly.
al have no positive complaint to make
against him, miss. But Pm afraid he doesn't
care about me; and he seems DO take no in
terest In his home. may almost say he's
tired of his home. 1t might DO better for
both Of US, miss, IL he went travelling for
awhile-not to mention the money, which Is
beginning 20 be wanted sadly"
She put her handkerchief to her eyes, and
sighed again more reslgnedly than ever.
| ~ don't quite understand" said Agnes. II
thought your husband had an engagement to
take some ladies to Switzerland and Italyp
"That was his i'll luck, miss. One Of the
ladies fell iIl-and tho others wouldn't go
without her. They paid him n months salary
rs compensation. But they had engaged him
for the autumn and winter--nnd the loss Is
serious"
II am sorry to hear 1t, Emily Let US
hope he will soon have another chancen
ats not his turn, miss, to be recommended
when the next applications come to tho
couriers' Office. You see, there are 50 many
Of them out OF employment just now. If he
could be privately recommended She
stopped, and left the unfinished sentence to
speak for itself.
Agnes understood her directly. %You want
my Recommendation" she rojoined. "Why
couldn't you say 50 at oncer
Emily blushed
at would be such o chance for my hus
bands sue answered, confusedly. "a letter,
lnquiring for good courier "a SIX month";
engagement, missD came 10 the Office this
morning. It's another mans turn TO be
chosen-and the secretary will recommend
him II my husband could only send his
testimonials by the came post-wlth just a
| word In your name, INSIST might turn the
the scale, as they say. A private recommen-
dalton between gentlefolks goes SO far"
She stopped again, and sighed again, and
looked down at the carpet, as II she had some
private reason for feeling little ashamed OF
herself
Agnes began to be rather weary OF the
persistent tone Of mystery In which her
visitor spoke.
at you want my interest with friend Of
mine" she said, -why can't you tell the
namsi"
The courier's wKe began to cry.
sim ashamed to tell you, miss"
For the first time Agnes spoke sharply.
Nonsense. Emilyi Tell me the name d.
rectly-or drop the subject-whicheve you
like best"
Emily made last desperate effort She
wrung her handkerchief hard in her lap, and
let of the name as II Hhs had been letting of
loaded gun:
@Lord Montbarryl"
Agnes rose and looked at her.
eYou have disappointed me-" she said, very
quietly, but with look which the courier's
wife had never seen In her face before
"Knowing what you know, you ought TO be
aware that 1t Is impossible for me 10 com
municnte with Lord Montbarry. always
supposed you had some delicaoJ Of feeling.
am sorry to fad that have been mistaken"
Weak as she was, Emily had spirit enough
10 feel the rsproot. She walked in her meek
noiseless way to the door. u beg your par
don, miss. am not quite so bad as you
think me. But beg your pardon, all tho
samen
She opened the door. Agnes called her
back. There was something In the womnn's
apology that appealed irresistibly % her just
and generous nature. Come" sho said, ave
must not part In this way. Lot me not mis-
understand you. What h II that you ex-
pected me 10 dor
Emily was wise enough to answer this time
without any reserve. any husband will send
his testimonials, miss, to Lord Montbarry In
Scotland. only wanted you to let him say
In his letter that his wife has boon known to
you since she was a child, and that you feel
some little interest In his welfare on that &C
counk don't ask 1t now, miss. You have
made mo understand that was wrong
Had she really been wrongl Past remem-
brancos, as well as present troubles, pleaded
powerfully with Agnes for the courier's wife.
at seoms only small favor TO ask, ;" she said,
speaking under tho impulse OF kindness which
was the strongest impulse In her nature.
"But am not sure that ought to allow my
name TO be mentioned in your husbands let
ter. Let me hear again exactly what no
wishes to say" Emily repeated the words
and then offered ono of those suggestions,
which have a special value of their own to
persons unaccustomed to the use OF their
pens Suppose you try, miss, how 1t looks
in writing" Childish as the idea was, Agnes
tried the experiment. "If / let you mention
me" she said, Eve must Mt least decide what
you nre to say" She wrote tie words In the
briefest and plainest form: al venture 10
state that my vile has been known from her
childhood to Miss Agnes Lockwood, who feels
some little interest in my welfare on that ao-
coant" Reduced TO this one sentence, there
WINS surely nothing In the reference to her
name which implied that Agnes had permit
ted it, or that sho was even aware Of 1t.
After last struggle with herself, she handed
tho written paper to Emily. "Your husband
must COPY IL exactly, without altering any
thing" she stipulated "On that condition
grant your request" Emily was not only
thapkfui-she was really touched. Agnes
hurried the little woman out Of the room.
"Jjon't give me time to repent and take 1t
lack again." she said Emily vanished.
as the tic That once bound us completely
brokOnf Am as entirely parted from the
good and evil fortune Of his life as II we bad
never mot and never lovod~ Agnes looked
at the clock on the mantelpiece. Not ten
minutes since those serious questions had been
on her lips. 1t almost shocked her TO think
Of tho commonplace manner In which they
had already met with their reply. The mail
Of that night would appeal once more to
Hontbarrys remembrance Of hes In the
choice OF q servant
Two days later the post brought few
grateful lines from Emily. Her husband had
got the place. Ferran was engaged for SIX
months certain as Lord Montbarrys courier. |
THE SECOND PART